Search Site

Friday, November 17, 2006

Another UC Law School?

So what do you think about UC's decision to open a new law school in Southern California at Irvine? Does this spell disaster for UC-Hastings, which is usually able to recuit the "downstate" students who, perhaps, don't get into UCLA? Admittedly, as the cost of UC law schools approaches private schools (as it has been doing over the last few years), the "downstate" students may just decide against a UC law school altogether for some of the private law schools in San Diego and LA. But to the extent that the UC brand is part of what the student is after, I wonder what role UCI may play in diluting the brand and convincing students who want to practice downstate to stay downstate. What do you think?

Of course, law students are very prestige sensitive -- so as long as Hastings has a prestige advantage above the new UCI law school, there may be no effect. Indeed, this development may hurt USD, Loyola, TJ, and Southwestern more than Hastings itself. Keep your eyes out: Riverside may also try to open a law school . . .

TrackBack

Comments

I wouldn't worry about Riverside for awhile. Their proposal was a mess and it didn't receive recommendation from the UC President's office. The horse trade was that Irvine got the law school and Riverside got a medical school.

If you want a clue into the effect of UCI on Hastings (and Davis), watch the effect of FIU on FSU (and UF) over the coming years. There are many parallels, although UCI has the better UC brand. The new schools are in the more populous areas of the state and in the areas more heavily dominated by minority students. These students often seek to stay close to family and community. Thus, Hastings is more likely to take a hit on diversity, especially among hispanic students, than in student numbers per se.

Posted by: Anon | Nov 17, 2006 5:31:18 PM

I thought Hastings generally took the spillover of local Bay Area students who didn't get into Boalt or Stanford and didn't want to go to Santa Clara. (That was definitely my mindset when I applied, although I ultimately chose to relocate out of the area instead).